School Health Overview Page

UCPS School Nurses 2017-18

Goal of School Health Nursing Services

The school nurses in Union County are employed and governed by the Union County Public Schools.

The goal of School Health Services is to strengthen and facilitate the educational process through identification, intervention and correction of health related barriers of learning in students. The program is designed to assure a safe, healthy environment conducive to learning, and to provide professional care for those who become ill or injured in order to maximize the quality of in-class time by reducing the incidence of health related absenteeism. Cooperation between school nurses and school personnel is essential in providing comprehensive and effective school health services.

The role of the school nurse is to (1) help families and school personnel prepare a safe and appropriate response to medical emergencies that a student might experience during school, (2) assure that all health related procedures and treatments are performed safely and accurately by trained school personnel,

(3) implement Individual Health Care Plans and Plans of Treatment as needed for students with chronic medical conditions, (4) assist to maximize the quality of the student’s educational experience by reducing the incidence of health related absenteeism, (5) assure that medications administered during school are done so correctly and according to school policy, and (6) serve as a health advisor to school faculty and staff.

The role of the schools in providing school health services is to (1) identify and refer students in need of health services to the school nurse, (2) administer medications to students according to school policy, and (3) establish an emergency response team for medical emergencies.

The school nurse works collaboratively with students, parents, educators, staff members and other community resources to deliver health services within the schools. The principal serves a key role, in that he/she works closely with the school nurse in the delivery of health services in each school.

The above stated goals of the school nurse and schools can best be accomplished through joint planning and evaluation by the school system, the health department, and the school nurses. Evaluation of the quality of nursing care by review of the clinical practice is one way to ensure excellence in practice. Peer review, quality assurance, and continuing education contribute towards this aim.